Certified Nursing Assistant
Definition & Purpose
The need for dependable bedside nursing care is as prevalent as ever. Most bedside care in hospitals, home health, and long-term care facilities is provided by a nursing assistant, a valuable member of the nursing profession. Nursing Assistants perform routine tasks in the general care of hospital, clinic, and nursing home patients. They work directly under the supervision of registered and practical nurses. Their role in performing basic patient care assists the licensed staff in providing quality nursing to the patient. The Nursing Assistant occupation is one of a series of possible steps on a career ladder in the health care field.
The Certified Nursing Assistant curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in health care under the supervision of the licensed registered nurse or registered practical nurse. Emphasis is on basic principles of nursing and development and application of nursing skills in long-term care facilities.
Students are required to pass the Illinois State Certification Exam for Certified Nursing Aide to work as such in the state of Illinois. For more information, please visit the Illinois Nurse Aide Testing website
Course Outline
- Introduction to health care and assistant nursing
- Medical Terminology
- Related anatomy and physiology
- Safety and body mechanics
- Admission and discharge
- Specimen collection
- Communications
- Basic communication skills to interact with client, family and other health care providers
- Taking and recording temperature, blood pressure
- Patient assisted skills - feeding, dressing and bathing
- Measuring food and liquid intake and output Patient care skills
- Basic nursing skills
- Measuring vital signs
- BLS Training for Healthcare provides (CPR+AED)
- Record keeping
1. Drug Testing: Students are required to undergo a 10-panel drug screen prior to the start of class. This drug screen is mandatory and the $40 fee is the students' responsibility. Students must undergo drug testing throught PCCTI's authorized vendor (www.certifiedbackground.com or 1-888-723-4263 x7142).
2. Student must submit health requirements to PCCTI Office before the start of class, regardless of registration date. Students who do not have Health Clearance will not be permitted to go to the clinicals. Below are the health requirements needed before a student will be allowed to attend clinical sections of the program:
A. Complete physical exam, signed by health care provider. Physicals are required annually and must not expire during the period of enrollment.
B. Immunization Records must include but are not limited to the following;
- a. Measles (Rubella)
- b. Mumps
- c. German Measles (Rubella)
- d. Chicken Pox (Varicella)
- Tetanus
C. Hepatitis B - Immunization is required
- a. Either dates of series immunization
- b. Positive titer - titer is recommended one to two months after receiving the complete series.
- a. Must be given and documented by health care provider
- b. First test is to be "read" and documented on between 48 hours to 7 days after the test was initiated.
- c. Second test is to be done 7-21 days after first and should be "read" 48 to 72 hours after the second test was administered.
- d. If TB skin test is positive, or is known to be positive by the student, a chest x-ray will need to be done and referred to health care provider.
*** It is the responsibility of the student to bring all health related information as stated above to the PCCTI campus before the start of class.
3. Student must have a BACKGROUND CHECK performed. These checks are performed through SIUC and are included in the cost of the tuition.
Hours: 80 Theory + 40 Clinical + 5 BLS
- CNA certification exam is not included in the course tuition.
- Please visit INAT website for the latest exam certification information